Wind musical instrument



June 3, 1930. H. J.ICHARLTON WIND MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed May '7, 1928 a new Patented June 3, 1930 UNETT ED STATES PATENT FFECE HARRY J. CHARLTON, OF ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'IO FRANK HOLTON & COM- PANY, OF ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN WIND MUSICAL insrnmvrnnr Application filed May 7,

My invention relates in general to wind musical instruments and has particular reference to that type of wind musical instrument commonly known as a musette or an oriental musette.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an instrument of this character which will be capable of producing improved tone qualities, which will be easier to play 1 than heretofore known musettes, and which will be capable of producing greater volume of tone.

I accomplish the above and other objects primarily by producing the instrument of metal whereas, in the past, these instruments have always been constructed of wood. In making the instrument of metal, such as brass, for example, I am enabled to manufacture the instrument slimmer in build, permitting greater ease in handling, and more graceful proportions. Being constructed of metal, it does not check or crack, as Wood does, nor does the bore change with changes in temperature, consequently, I am enabled to build the instrument to a set pitch and better in tune.

Musettes constructed of wood, as in the past, cannot be built to a set pitch, in fact, it has always been difficult to find any two 80 in tune, causing endless trouble in oriental bands, in which these instruments are so frequently used.

Another characteristic of the instrument when made of metal, as compared to wood, is concerned with the mouthpiece, thesame. when made of metal, being much more rigid and can thus be made separable from the body of the instrumentso as to be detachable therefrom.

419 These musettes require the use of a double reed and, as anotherfeature of the invention,

1928. Serial No. 275,616.

Consequently, when these instruments are made of woods, changes in temperature seriously affect the proportions of the bore by expansion and contraction of the wood, so that great diiiiculty is always experienced in having two wood musettes in tune together.

My invention overcomes all of these difficulties, and to further explain the construction and inherent qualities of an instrument made in accordance with my invention, attention is invited to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an instrument embodying the preferred form of my inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the great er portion of the instrument illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of an iiistrument embodying the characteristics of my invention;

Fig. L is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of the detachable mouthpiece of my instrument showing the protective cover therefor; and

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1 represents the metal body of the instrument which is preferably constructed of brass, the same having a brass or other suit able metal bell 2 at one end and a metal mouthpiece 3 at its opposite end. The bell may be formed as an integral pr t of the body 1. or else it may be separately formed and permanently or otherwise attached thereto, as at 4, and the mouthpiece 3 is made detachable. This is an improvement over other known types of musettes in that when they are made of wood, as heretofore practiced. the slimness of the mouthpiece, due to neces sity has never been made separate or detachable from the body portion 1.

According to the preferred construction of my instrument, the mouthpiece 3 terminates at one end in a male member 5 which is preferably equipped with a cork sleeve 6 confined thereon between the annular shoulder 7 and tne annular end flange 8, and with this male member adapted to slide in the nipple 9 on the end of the body 1. The end of this nipple 9 abuts against the shoulder 7. The body 1 and the mouthpiece 3 are made with co-aXially alined internal bores 10 and 11, respectively. each of which are conical or tapering, providing a straight, uninterrupted tone passage throughout the length of the instrument which increases in diameter from the reed-equipped end of the mouthpiece to the bell. 2. The body 1 is further provided with a plurality of spaced finger openings 12 which communicate with the bore 10, one of these finger openings being positioned beneath the alined openings along the top of the body and between the lirst pair of openings nearest to the mouthpiece. A thumb rest 13 is provided on the bottom of the body for the convenience of the player. The finger openings 12 are elevated above the circumference of the body 1 and are made preferably with flat enlargements for providing a suitable rest for the finger tips.

The mouthpiece 3 adjacent the shoulder T is provided with a disc-like projection 14 and a pair of enlargements 15 and 1 6, one of which being larger than the other. The enlargement 15 serves to increase the circumference of the mouthpiece 3 to accommodate the protective cover 17, which will be hereinafter more specifically referred to. lVhereas, the enlargement 16 servesas a balance to compensate for the weight of the enlargement 15. The mouthpiece is further provided with a double reed 18 which is secured to the extremity of the mouthpiece in any manner suitable for the purpose, such, for instance, as the coiled wire 19. Adjacent the attachment for the reed 18 is another disclike n-ojection 20 against which the lips of the musician will press when playing the instrument. This disc 20 also frictionally fits the cover 17, as best illustrated. in Fig. e1.

It will be noted that both the disc 14-, the enlargement 16, and the disc 20, as well as the metal surrounding the finger openings 12, are all formed as an integral part of the mouthpiece. The disc 14 serves as a handgrip tor disconnecting the mouthpicce from the body 1 and its periphery is gnarled or otherwise roughened for this purpose.

Referring now to the cover 17, the same preferably comprises a split sleeve. the split being made in opposite sides of the sleeve, as at 21, and commencing at the end which abuts against the disc 141. The normal. diameter of the sleeve is slightly smaller than the enlargement 15 and the disc 20 so that when the cover is slipped over the mouthpiece. it will frictionally engage the enlargement 15 and also the disc 20 and hold the same bearing against the side of the disc 14.

The disc 20 serves to block off the end of the cover so that the absorbent material 22 carried in the end thereof will not dry out too quickly. hen the absorbent material moistened, it will saturate the chamber provided by the disc 20 when the cover is on the mouthpiece so as to keep the reed 18 moist, and thus flexible. so that it will be retained in playing cor lition. is a convenient means of enclosing the absorbent material 22 within the protective cover, a caplike closure 24 is provided for the end of the cover, the same telescoping in the end of the cover and having a hed 25 which not only blocks oil the end 01'' the cover but also serves as a linger piece for withdrawing the cap from the end of the cover.

The protective cover, in combination with the moistening device for the reed, is applicable not only to the particular type of wind musical. instrument described but may :lind a wider range of use in other instruments in which it is desirable to keep the reed-equipped mouthpieces thereof in a moist condition. In this crn'mection, I will mention obocs or bassoons as an outstanding example.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the construction and arrangement oil: parts without departing from the spirit andv scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

1 claim l. A wind musical instrument comprising a metal tube having a reed equipped mouthpiece at one end, and a bell at the opposite end, said tube having a conical internal bore and a plurality of spaced linger openings in said tube communicating with said bore.

2. A wind musical. instrument comprising a metal tube having a reed equipped mouthpiece at one end, and a bell at the opposite end, said tube having a straight internal borc gradually increasing in diameter from the mouthpiece end to the bell end, and a plurality of spaced linger openings in said tube communicating with said bore.

A wind musical instrument comprising a tubular metal. body portion having a bell at one end and a detachable reed equipped metal mouthpiec at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having conical internal co-axial bores registering with one another, and a plurality of spaced linger openings in said body portion communicating with the bore thereof.

1. A wind musical instrument comprising a tubular metal body portion having a bell at one end and a detachable reed equipped metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having straight and conical internal coaxial bores registering with one another, and a plurality of spaced linger openings in said body portion communicating with the bore thereof.

5. A. wind musical instrument comprising iii a tubular metal body portion having a bell at one end and a detachable reed-equipped metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-axially registering internal bores, said bores providing a continuous straight wind passage from end to end of the instrument gradually increasing in diameter from the reed end of the mouthpiece to the bell end of the body portion, and a plurality of finger openings in the body portion communicating with said bore.

6. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aXially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward. the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece.

'4'. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-axially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a sliding frictional fit over the mouthpiece.

8. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equioped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aXially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward tl e bell. end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece, said covcr carrying a moistening device for the double reed oi the mouthpiece.

A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aXially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a sliding frictional fit over the mouthpiece and carrying a moistening device for the double reed of the mouthpiece.

10. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aizially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a

plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, an enlargement on said mouthpiece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a sliding frictional fit over said enlargement.

11. A musctte comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aXiaL ly alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward. the bell end of the body portion, aplurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, an enlargement on said mouthpiece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a sliding frictional fit over said enlargement and carrying a moistening device for the double reed of the mouthpiece.

12. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion anpl said mouthpiece having co-aXiaL ly alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, an enlargement on said mouthpiece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouth piece having a sliding frictional fit over said enlargement, said mouthpiece'having a closed end and an absorbent device in said closed end for keeping the reed of the mouthpiece moist.

13. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and. said mouthpiece having co-aX- ially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, an enlargen'ient on said mouthpiece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having sliding frictional over said enlargement, said mouthpiece having cap closure for one end and adapted to contain absorbent material for keeping the reed of the mouthpiece moist.

14:. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-aX- iahy alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, said mouthpiece having a lateral projection ad j acent its connection withthe body portion, an enlargement on the mouthplece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a frictional fit over said enlargement and abutting against said lateral projection.

15. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a double reed equipped detachable metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and said mouthpiece having co-axially alined internal bores increasing in diameter toward the bell. end of the body portion, a plurality of finger openings in said body portion communicating with said bore, said mouthpiece having a lateral projection adj acent its connection with the body portion, an

' enlargement on the mouthpiece intermediate its ends, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a frictional fit over said enlargement and abutting against said lateral projection, said cover having a cap-like closure for one end adapted tocarry absorbent material for keeping the reed of the mouthpiece moist.

16. A cover for reed equipped mouthpieces of wind musical instrinnents, comprising a tubular member adapted to slip over the mouthpiece and constructed to accommodate absorbent material for keeping the reed of the mouthpiece moist.

17. A cover for reed equipped mouthpieces of wind musical instruments comprising a split sleeve adapted to slip over the mouthpiece, a cap-like closure for the end of said sleeve, and means confined in the sleeve by said cap-like closure for keeping the reed of a mouthpiece moist.

18. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a bell at one end and a reed equipped detachable mouthpiece at its opposite end, and a protective metal cover for said mouthpiece having means associated therewith for retaining the reed thereof in playing condition.

19. A cover for reed equipped mouthpieces, of wind musical instruments comprising a tubular member adapted to slip over the mouthpiece, a cap-like closure for the end of said tubular member, said caplike closure comprising a cup-shaped member having a portion thereof slidable within the tubular member, said cap being adapted to contain a sponge or the like for keeping the reed of the musical instrument moistened.

20. A musette comprising a metal body portion having a metal bell at one end and a reed equipped metal mouthpiece at its opposite end, said body portion and mouthpiece having co-axially alined internal bores, a plurality of finger openings in the body portion communicating with the bore of the body portion and with the external surface of said body portion, said mouthpiece having a sub stantially spherical enlargement intermediate its ends, an abutment adjacent one end thereof, a disc-shaped member adjacent the other end thereof, and a protective cover for the mouthpiece having a frictional fit over said disc-shaped member and over said enlargement, the abutment serving as a stop to limit the movement of the cover longitudinally of the mouthpiece.

21. A device as described in claim 20 in which the abutment is a disc-shaped member which not only serves as an abutment but also as a means for closing the open end of the protective cover which is slid over the mouthpiece.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this dth day of May, A. D. 1928.

HARRY J. CHARLTON. 

